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  • Time for an upgrade, ECM or Rocket

    So It’s time for my Lelit Combi and I to part ways after about 5 years. I come from a coffee industry background in Vancouver for about 4-5 years and the Combi was my first purchase when I finished uni, so was being gentle on the budget. A few years on and I’m missing that cafe feel and ready to treat myself

    I have been drooling over an ECM synchronika for a while now (I also really like the technika profi POD). I love the aesthetics, the features and the reviews have been excellent. The lelit Bianca seems nice but the looks aren’t to my taste. I recent visited a friend who had just bought a new Rocket Cronometro R and it’s amazing. I was very impressed with the shot and milk steam quality. Not a massive fan of the big “R” on the knob but this is minor.

    Now I’m torn. Been trying to decide whether DB vs HX Will suit my needs. Trying to justify the price difference. The Rocket overall footprint is smaller than bother Synchronika and technika.

    We make between 2-4 espresso based drinks a day, half pure espresso (for me) and milk based for my wife. Speed and efficiency are key with two toddlers and full time jobs so the fact that I could make two coffees on the Rocket in under 5min really appealed (vs on my Combi waiting for steam temp etc)
    Both machines get my wife’s tick of approval for looks. It’ll be paired with a Niche zero which I’m ordering now.

    Any insights appreciated. I know people have asked the Synchronika vs _____ before but I can’t find this comparison, I suppose because it’s in two different classes/levels. I’m in Adelaide to hoping to find a place that stocks both and have a look at form factor in the flesh too

  • #2
    I chose the Profi 700 over the Rocket because of the looks, cup height, and 2 bar of steam. The rocket feels like it's more aimed at espresso drinkers with less cup clearance (you won't get a mug under it with a scale). Also I preferred the look of the PID on the Profi/Sync than the cut out shot timer on the Rocket. I believe both will make similar espresso shots, so I think it's up to preference. The Rocket is also a bit more compact.

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    • #3
      Click image for larger versionName:	63F63A50-494E-4DA0-8B57-AEBFA9362BC2.jpgViews:	0Size:	127.1 KBID:	902152Oh that’s good to know actually, because my wife drinks with mugs whereas I just use my espresso cup with a small scale

      yeah it’s sounding like aesthetics are coming down to it. I don’t want to choose based purely on size because we’ll be moving in the next 1-2 years and the new place will
      have a bigger kitchen/more bench space. At the moment our kitchen has a small cutout where the coffee setup is but using AR I plugged in an ECM and a Rocket just got comparison. ECM takes up most of the space. Technika and cronometro are about the same (except depth)

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      • #4
        If you can test them side by side I think you will find the ECM will feel much nicer.

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        • #5

          i am also looking too get a new machine... i would like a smaller machine as bench space is limited... I actually have had a sunbeam Torino for 5 years worst decision ever.. so now am looking for smaller one that can do 2 cups at a time..... any recommendations .. I have limited bench space ... torino took up way too much....

          Comment


          • San
            San commented
            Editing a comment
            Profitec 300 (saturated, dual boiler), Lelit Mara X (HX with smarts), Lelit Elizabeth (dual boiler with pre-infusion)

        • #6
          Look inside ECM and Rocket - you’ll see the build and it might help you to choose.

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          • #7
            Originally posted by Mousies View Post
            i am also looking too get a new machine... i would like a smaller machine as bench space is limited... I actually have had a sunbeam Torino for 5 years worst decision ever.. so now am looking for smaller one that can do 2 cups at a time..... any recommendations .. I have limited bench space ... torino took up way too much....
            Look at the ECM mechanica slim

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            • #8
              Originally posted by mathiar View Post
              Click image for larger versionName:	63F63A50-494E-4DA0-8B57-AEBFA9362BC2.jpgViews:	0Size:	127.1 KBID:	902152Oh that’s good to know actually, because my wife drinks with mugs whereas I just use my espresso cup with a small scale

              yeah it’s sounding like aesthetics are coming down to it. I don’t want to choose based purely on size because we’ll be moving in the next 1-2 years and the new place will
              have a bigger kitchen/more bench space. At the moment our kitchen has a small cutout where the coffee setup is but using AR I plugged in an ECM and a Rocket just got comparison. ECM takes up most of the space. Technika and cronometro are about the same (except depth)
              I’ve got the type v mozzafiato and would think that you’d be very very happy with the rocket. I do agree that the height of the group head can be a bit annoying but I’ve learnt to deal with it by using shot glasses which I then pour into larger cups if that’s the requirement. I usually use smaller 150ml flat white cups which fit easily.

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              • #9
                Philly, what is the height of the grouphead, I use glass latte cups on my VBM, and while its not perfect you can slip the cup in under the spout, just wondering whether I could do that with the rocket

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                • Phillydelphia
                  Phillydelphia commented
                  Editing a comment
                  About 14.5cm clearance

              • #10
                I owned a Rocket, now a Decent and its worst features were the size of the drip tray and the distance from the group head to the tray. The drip tray is small and consequently I had to empty it way more than other machines and once you put scales on the tray or not the use of taller cups and mugs is very limiting. Don't get me wrong, it does make a great coffee but these issues would be a deal breaker for me now. I wouldn't hesitate to choose an ECM Sync over a Rocket and I would opt for a flow control device which opens up a whole new world of experimenting.

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                • #11
                  Thanks for your input. I think I’m sold on ECM now for sure. The bigger question that’s come up since visiting a shop is Technika vs Synchronika

                  This machine (in theory, who knows in 5y) should be my lifetime machine. Everything between the two sounds similar in performance for the average home user. I am
                  not sure whether spending the extra on a DB is going to make much difference. I’ve read some reports that steam pressure on the Technika drops off and makes steaming annoying
                  I was ready to pull the trigger on a Synch and now I’m torn!!

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                  • #12
                    The Profitec Pro 600 might be worth a look? - the combo of DB with vibe pump means you get 2BAR steam pressure, more gradual pre-infusion and the smaller form factor.

                    charlie

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                    • Phillydelphia
                      Phillydelphia commented
                      Editing a comment
                      The profitecs are such amazing machines!

                  • #13
                    Thanks Charlie
                    Ultimate goal is to plump the machine in in the next 1-2 years in the new house so want to stick with rotary

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                    • #14
                      I believe the ECM Synchronica and Profitec Pro 700 share the same internal parts. They're both from the same German company with factories in Germany and Milan. The 700 uses knobs whereas the Synch has paddles. The ECS has slightly better external finish, although the 700 is superbly built too. The 700 is a bit cheaper than the Synch. I would be considering either of these two in your situation.

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                      • WhatEverBeansNecessary
                        WhatEverBeansNecessary commented
                        Editing a comment
                        Pretty sure if knobs vs levers for steam/water are a deal breaker you can get a kit to convert them - not that I personally think it makes any difference to user experience

                    • #15
                      Without throwing another spanner, I can’t help but feel the lelit bianca would be a worthy contender also here based on what you’re looking for plus the ability to use manual flow control. Given you want this to last quite a while I’d dare say this might last your upgradeitis requirements for next few years

                      Comment


                      • mathiar
                        mathiar commented
                        Editing a comment
                        Yeah the Bianca was the first one I actually looked at when getting the upgrade itch. But it was the aesthetic of ECM that made a big difference (which ultimately was the issue with my other half, and let’s be honest she has the final say!)
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